Chapter 3 - The Envelope Ebere FearedEbere did not move.

For a moment, mother and daughter simply stared at each other.

“What is that?” Ebere asked.

Chioma slowly closed her fingers around the envelope.

“Nothing.”

Ebere's eyes narrowed.

“Give it to me.”

“No.”

The answer surprised both of them.

Chioma had spent her entire life obeying her mother.

Not anymore.

Ebere walked closer.

“I said give it to me.”

Chioma stepped back.

“Who is Emeka?”

Ebere stopped.

The question landed like a bullet.

“Why are you asking me?”

“Because he left this.”

Chioma held up the envelope.

Ebere's face drained of color.

“Where did you get that?”

“Mr. Nwosu.”

Silence.

“What did he tell you?”

“That Emeka didn't leave because he stopped loving me.”

Ebere looked toward the road.

“Come inside.”

“No.”

“Chioma.”

“Tell me what happened.”

Ebere's voice dropped.

“Not here.”

They returned to the house.

Dubem stood near the doorway.

“What is going on?”

Ebere glared at him.

“Go outside.”

Dubem refused.

“This concerns my sister.”

Ebere turned toward him.

“You have no right to interfere.”

“I have every right.”

Chioma placed the letter on the table.

“Emeka knew I would come home.”

Dubem stared at the handwriting.

“That's impossible.”

“Why?”

“Because everyone said he left town years ago.”

Chioma looked at him.

“Did you believe that?”

“I didn't know what to believe.”

Ebere suddenly grabbed the letter.

She tore it in half.

“Stop!”

Chioma lunged for it.

Ebere tore it again.

And again.

Chioma stared at the pieces.

“You destroyed it.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because that man is the reason you almost ruined your life.”

Chioma's eyes filled with anger.

“No. Donald ruined my life.”

Ebere slapped the table.

“Donald gave you everything!”

“He gave me bruises!”

The room fell silent.

Chioma continued.

“He gave me a mansion, yes. He gave me jewelry. He gave me cars. And he also gave me fear.”

Ebere looked away.

Chioma moved closer.

“You knew something.”

“I know nothing.”

“Then why were you afraid of that letter?”

“Because Emeka is dead to us.”

Chioma froze.

“What?”

Ebere's eyes sharpened.

“Forget his name.”

“Why?”

“Because if you keep digging into the past, you will discover things that cannot be undone.”

Dubem stared at their mother.

“What happened to Emeka?”

Ebere said nothing.

Then a loud knock hit the front door.

Everyone froze.

Another knock.

Three slow blows.

Mr. Nwosu's voice came from outside.

“Open the door.”

Ebere looked terrified.

She walked toward the door.

Before she reached it, Mr. Nwosu opened it himself.

Behind him stood an elderly man Chioma had never seen before.

The man held a black leather briefcase.

He looked at Chioma.

“Are you Chioma Ebere?”

“Yes.”

He handed her the briefcase.

“Your husband told me to give this to you if he ever threw you out.”

Chioma's body stiffened.

“Donald?”

The old man nodded.

“He said you would eventually come home.”

Ebere rushed forward.

“Give it to me.”

The old man pulled it away.

“It is addressed to the daughter, not the mother.”

Chioma took the briefcase.

Her hands shook as she opened it.

Inside were bank statements.

Photographs.

Property documents.

And a small recording device.

She stared at the papers.

“This is Donald's company.”

“Yes.”

“What are these payments?”

The old man remained silent.

Chioma scanned the names.

Then she saw one she recognized.

EBERE NWOSU.

Payment after payment.

Monthly.

Large transfers.

Her mother received money from Donald.

Not through Chioma.

Directly.

Chioma looked up.

“Mama?”

Ebere's face went pale.

“It wasn't what you think.”

Chioma's voice trembled.

“How long?”

“Chioma…”

“How long have you been taking money from Donald?”

Ebere did not answer.

Dubem picked up another statement.

His eyes widened.

“Mama.”

“What?”

“This transfer.”

He pointed.

The amount was enormous.

A single payment made years ago.

The date was the exact week Emeka disappeared.

Chioma's heart pounded.

“Why was Donald paying you the same week Emeka vanished?”

Ebere backed away.

“I did what I had to do.”

Chioma stared at her.

“You sold me.”

The old man quietly closed his briefcase.

“I have given you what he asked me to give you.”

“Wait,” Chioma said.

The man paused.

“What else does Donald know?”

The old man looked at her.

“He knows exactly why Emeka disappeared.”

Then he walked away.

Chioma looked down at the recording device.

A red light blinked.

She pressed play.

Donald’s voice filled the room.

“If Chioma hears this, then something has gone wrong.”

Chioma's skin prickled.

Donald continued.

“But before she listens to anything else, she needs to ask her mother one question.”

A pause.

Then his next words made Chioma stop breathing.

“Where is Emeka?”

The recording ended.

Chioma slowly lifted her eyes.

Ebere was crying.

But she was not looking at Chioma.

She was looking toward the back door.

May you like

My Family Inherited Millions and Left Me a Ruined House. Four Months Lat...

The lawyer’s office fell silent as my grandmother’s will was read, and I watched my family inherit millions while I received nothi...

A Desperate Mother Begged a Billionaire for a Job to Feed Her Two Childr...

I was stranded on a lonely Arizona highway with two starving children, a pair of ruined suitcases, and no way to reach our destina...

I Saved the Mafia Boss’s Baby from a Dumpster, but He Threw Me in Jail f...

The first thing I noticed when I opened the dumpster behind the Valente mansion was a tiny blue hand sticking out from beneath a f...

Because someone was standing outside.

Listening.